AFBF Backs Barrasso Bill Blocking EPA GHG Regulations

The American Farm Federation supports the Defending America’s Affordable Energy and Jobs Act, legislationintroduced by Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) that would pre-empt the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating stationary sources of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.

AFBF President Bob Stallman wrote to Barrasso on Wednesday pledging Farm Bureau’s support of the bill. Stallman told Barrasso the regulations proposed by EPA would have serious consequences for agriculture.

According to EPA estimates, more than 37,000 farming operations (90 percent of livestock production) would be affected by the proposal, at an average cost of $23,200 per permit. Overall, this would cost the agriculture sector more than $866 million.

“In addition to these direct costs, farmers and ranchers will also feel indirect economic impacts. Costs incurred by utilities, refiners and manufacturers to comply with GHG regulations will be passed on to farmers, ranchers and other consumers in the form of higher fuel, fertilizer and energy costs,” according to Stallman.

The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture reached a significant milestone in 2017 – 50 years since its founding. In the beginning the Foundation focused primarily on research for advancing agricultural mechanization and technology.

The Conservation Reserve Program is a voluntary program that pays farmers and ranchers to retire environmentally sensitive cropland. Contracts for land enrolled in CRP are 10 to 15 years in length, yet USDA Farm Service Agency data recently revealed that nearly one-quarter of all land enrolled in CRP has been enrolled for more than 20 years, and 12 percent o […]